Why Own the Bone?

The Own the Bone program provides a simple, easy-to-use tool to enable hospitals, medical centers, and practices to establish a Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) to:

Identify, evaluate and treat fragility fracture patients over 50 at risk of osteoporosis.

Coordinate patient care among different specialties and physicians for each patient.

Through a clinically-proven, web-based patient registry and 10 prevention measures, Own the Bone seeks to:

Close the gap documented in the RAND and NCQA studies as it applies to physician treatment recommendations

Change physician and patient behavior to reduce incidence of future fractures and impact of osteoporosis

The program focuses on osteoporosis diagnosis and care following a fracture, rather than primary osteoporosis prevention.

Fragility Fractures Provide a "Teachable Moment"

Fragility fractures-as sentinel events-provide opportunities for physicians to educate patients, fellow physicians, and other healthcare professionals. The seriousness of the fracture episode provides physicians with a "teachable moment" in which it is possible to impact behavior.

Fragility fractures are an independent predictor of future fractures. Patients who have had prior fractures are at a higher risk for future fractures. In particular, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with a prior fracture have twice the risk of subsequent fracture.

Osteoporosis Epidemic

Fragility Fractures…

Represent a Significant Societal Problem

Fragility fractures have become nearly epidemic in the United States among older adults with over 2 million fractures each year - more than heart attacks, strokes, and breast cancer combined.

Continue to Increase

At least 44 million Americans are affected by osteoporosis or low bone density. 4,5 Due to an aging population, the number of Americans with osteoporosis or low bone density is expected to increase significantly. Up to one-half of all women and up to one quarter of all men will suffer fragility fractures in their lifetimes.

Result in Enormous Costs

Direct care expenditure from osteoporosis-related fractures exceeds $19 billion annually. By 2025, the annual cost of fractures is projected to grow to more than $25 billion, as annual fractures surpass 3 million.

Are Undertreated

Approximately 80% of patients do not receive recommended osteoporosis care following a fracture. Men, who account for 30% of fractures and 25% of costs, are particularly undertreated.

Cause an Unnecessary and Devastating Toll

Nearly 25% of patients who suffer a hip fracture die within a year. Those who do survive often experience a loss of independence and may require long-term nursing home care.

Are the First Sign of Poor Bone Health

One of the best indicators for a future fracture is a previous fragility fracture. Fragility fractures are the first sign of poor bone health. Patients with a fragility fracture are at an 86% higher risk of a second fracture.

Provide a "Teachable Moment"

Fragility fractures, as sentinel events, provide opportunities for clinicians to educate patients, fellow physicians and other healthcare providers about the importance of bone health and osteoporosis treatment.

History and Milestones

After piloting the program in 2005, AOA launched Own the Bone in 2009 as a pragmatic tool for hospitals, medical centers and private practice groups to implement a fragility fracture prevention program. Own the Bone was based on the American Heart Association's successful Get With The Guidelines(TM) Program. Cardiologists faced a similar situation as they encountered patients with myocardial infarctions (MI) not receiving beta-blockers after an MI. To address this treatment gap and capitalize on the "teachable moment," AHA developed GWTG to change the way physicians treated patients after an MI. This program has been so successful that the quality measure was removed from the HEDIS list. AOA gratefully acknowledges AHA's guidance and experience in developing Own the Bone.